Pastor Teddie shares daily updates about our church and church family.

I figured that I had better blog today since I won’t have the opportunity to blog on this “date” until four years from now.

I received word from Louise Mason & Eugene Dighero about the lady, Antonia, from Santo Domingo Xenacoj. Yesterday, she was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Antigua. The doctor there says she needs surgery immediately and that he will accompany her to the hospital in Guatemala City today to inform the doctors of her situation. Louise & Eugene are taking some money to them this morning at 7:00AM in order for this process to begin. Please pray for this situation.

Donna (Billy) Morris, Sharon (Gary) Self, Steve Brown, Debbie Landers & Linda Roden are friends from Danville. Their father, Robert Brown, Jr., passed away Wednesday and they will have the visitation tonight and the service tomorrow morning. Pray for the Brown family during their time of sorrow.

Meagan DeGeer & Scott Older will be united in marriage tonight at First Baptist. The ceremony is by invitation only but you are encouraged to pray for this couple as they begin their life together. I am not doing the ceremony but did the pre-marital counseling with them. Scott & Meagan have been very faithful to attend our services and I look forward to the Lord using them in the days ahead.

So, Morris and I will catch a couple of games this morning before heading back to Grand Bay. It has been a good week and I have enjoyed the time away. I look forward to joining the members of the Friendship family in Bible study and worship this Sunday.

Our church secretary, Edna Holifield, has a great-grandson who is in the ICU in a local hospital. He was born prematurely and has not developed the sucking instinct yet. Please pray for him, his mother, Rachel, and the entire family.

I didn’t mention it yesterday but would ask that you pray for the Collier family today as they will have the funeral service for Eric & Spencer’s mother at 10:00AM.

Also, Vera Bosarge has been sick this week but her concern has been with her brother, Danny Vesper, who underwent ten hours of surgery in a battle against his cancer. He is in a Huntsville hospital. Please pray for him.

On our trip to Guatemala last week, the doctors treated a lady in Santo Domingo Xenacoj who apparently has a heart condition. Eugene & Louise took her to a hospital yesterday morning arriving around 9:00AM. They would not let anyone go “back” with her and she finally appeared around 4:00PM having seen an intern. He told her that she needed to take her medications but otherwise she was okay. She could “see” a doctor if she would wait another three hours. So, they came home and will try again next week to see a doctor. Pray for this situation.

I am about to walk over to the BJCC to watch six high school basketball games. The first day was not good as all of the games except one were lopsided affairs but yesterday’s games were much better including one overtime game. I have had a good time thus far as my younger brother, Freddie, is here along with my lifelong friend, Rod Gillott. I also spent some time with the guy who was the best man in our wedding, Bruce Fitzgerald. Bruce pastors a church in Lawrence County and also teaches/coaches at Danville High School.

I spoke to Claude and Clint this morning via the phone regarding Joseph Hughes Landry’s condition. He was born this past Sunday night and was placed in the NICU due to some problems with a bubble in his chest. He is doing much better now. Suzanne is going home today and they fully expect Joseph to do likewise in a few days. Thanks to all who have prayed for Joseph and his family!

My understanding is that Pastor Johnny Howard did very well and I am assuming that he is now at home. I got an e-mail telling me that Pastor Rodney Coleman is at home doing well following his heart surgery. Burnie Barnes remains hospitalized but is improving. I haven’t heard from Carla Kyser but do know she continues to receive her treatment.

The contribution forms for 2007 are being mailed to all of our Michigan friends today and/or tomorrow. Thanks to Miss Kittie for taking care of this for me. There are two or three that I think have discrepancies so please give me a holler if your’s is not correct.

Glory to God! We had a great day in the Lord yesterday as we saw a number of folks at the altar during the 10:30AM service, had one (Chance Bosarge) make a profession of faith in the evening service, had two (Desiree Hovel & Marilyn Thomas) join the Friendship family by transfer of letter, had one (Tanya Bosarge) come forward desiring baptism since she has been saved, baptized ten folks as a part of our evening service, and had an excellent Spirit in the all three of the services. Yes, it is a God thing and we give Him the glory!

I am already excited about next Sunday’s services as there are already folks planning on making decisions. I know that at least seven folks are planning on being baptized and two more are planning on being baptized the following Sunday. We are seeing folks in our services that haven’t been present in awhile and that has been such a huge blessing to me! God is good!

The Taste of Friendship was a huge success. Thanks to each person who helped and to each person who attended. Special thanks to Diane Vickers, Tena Hovel, and Melissa Brown for heading this effort. It was great!

Pastor Johnny Howard (Carla Cooper’s dad) was admitted to the hospital Saturday with some heart problems. They will do a cath today to determine the treatment. Pray for Bro. Johnny and his entire family.

Bobby Henley left yesterday following Sunday School traveling to Florida for MLB’s spring training. Pray for Bobby as he wants to be a godly example to those guys for these forty-five days of training.

Claude & Kay Landry are grandparents for the second time. Suzanne gave birth to a boy last night around 6:15PM. Congratulations to Clint & Suzanne and the entire family. Clint is the Minister to Students at 1st Wetumpka.

Today, Morris Bryant and I will make our annual pilgrimage to Birmingham and the AHSAA Final Four basketball tourney. These will be vacation days for me and, oddly enough, sitting in the gym from 9:00AM until 10:00PM each day watching basketball is relaxing and refreshing to me. My preference would be to not be gone on consecutive weeks but that is the way the calendar fell this year. I appreciate your understanding. I do not know how much I will post this week. Plans call for us to be back Friday in time for Megan & Scott’s wedding.

As I am preparing to leave Guatemala bound for home, I wanted to remind the Friendship family of three important things. First, we are going to receive an offering this Sunday, 2/24, to help Jon Cowart in his quest to get another vehicle. His was stolen during our revival services. This is a love offering and should be given above your regular offering to the Lord through the church.

Second, the Taste of Friendship takes place this Saturday, 2/23, from 4:00 – 7:00PM. This is a major fundraiser for our students attending Wild Week ’08 and your participation is vital to its success. I believe tickets can be purchased at the door. You can contact Diane Vickers, Tena Hovel, or Melissa Brown via the phone if you have any questions.

Third, we will observe the ordinance of baptism this Sunday evening as a part of our worship service. All baptismal candidates should meet with me at 5:00PM at a location TBA during our morning services.

I want to add one prayer request. Jimmy Keenum is in a Birmingham hospital battling cancer. One of his sons, Tim, pastors a church in the Athens, AL area. Tim and I attended school together for all twelve years during our elementary and high school years. As it comes to your mind, please pray for Mr. Keenum.

O by the way, the container that left our property on 2/13 is in Guatemala and was supposed to be at Casa Aleluya yesterday. Wow!

I hope you will have a great day with Jesus. Pray for us as we travel!

I received word from Bro. Jerry that our FAITH went very well last night. Those folks were doing follow up from the revival services. We will baptize this Sunday evening and I am asking the baptismal candidates to meet with me at 5:00PM. Location TBA.

I also received word from Alisha Vice that Pastor Rodney Coleman did well through his triple by-pass surgery. My brother, Freddie, also did well as he received a plate and ten screws. Thanks for your prayers for these two.

Carla Kyser meets with the doctor this afternoon to chart the next course of action regarding her treatments. Pray for her!

Please remember The Taste of Friendship that takes place this Saturday, 2/23, from 4:00 – 7:00PM.

I appreciate those who have sent me e-mails giving me reports about the services at Friendship yesterday. I heard nothing but good reports of Tim Burnett’s and Dale Bosarge’s preaching. I was also told that you did very well in attending the evening service and for that I am grateful! Thanks Tim & Dale for preaching the Word and thanks to each member of the Friendship family who was faithful to attend the services.

Pastor Rodney Coleman, Caanan Assembly of God in East Central, MS, is having open heart surgery today. He has some major blockages so please keep him in your prayers.

My brother, Freddie, is also scheduled to undergo surgery today. He is having a plate placed into his wrist due to his injury from last Thursday’s accident.

Our college students & young professionals need to note that we will not have the 8:00PM Bible study this Wednesday. Lisa isn’t there to cook and I am not there to teach. Please attend one of the other Bible studies this Wednesday.

Our annual Taste of Friendship takes place this Saturday, 2/23, from 4:00 – 7:00PM. This is a major fundraiser for our Wild Week camps so please make plans to join us. I am thinking there will be tickets available for purchase at the door and I will verify that later this week.

Good Saturday morning! I was intending to post this on our GRACE blog site but cannot log onto it right now. So, just a quick note to let everyone know that we all arrived safely with the exception of David & Terri Scholz who will arrive tomorrow afternoon. We are going into our first morning Bible study in a couple of hours and I have plans to update at some point tonight. Keep us in your prayers! Thanks!

Yesterday afternoon was a bit crazy for me. I came home from making hospital visits and had a voice mail on my e-mail. The voice mail was from a couple from Michigan. Long story short, they were supposed to be at O’Hare this morning to travel to Guatemala but got stuck in Cancun, Mexico and couldn’t make the flight. After a lot of praying and phone calls, they have been rescheduled for this Sunday’s flight. Thank God for taking care of this situation.

In the midst of that situation, my only sister called me to say that my younger brother, Freddie, had been involved in an accident. He is a police officer and we didn’t know how serious his injury was or what type of accident he had been in. Long story short, he was responding to a 911 call where a woman was threatening suicide. She had a gun and somehow Freddie fell and suffered a severly broken wrist. The pain medication caused him to have flashbacks to his time in Iraq and they are trying to determine this morning when they will do surgery. The standoff between the woman and the officers lasted for about four hours. They finally hit her with a taser gun and subdued her. This took place in St. Clair County which leads me to believe she was probably kin to (that means related – trying to help my Yankee friends understand the lingo) Kevin and/or Kathy Wadkins since that is their old stomping grounds!

We left at 6:40AM this morning heading for another GRACE Ministries mission trip. This team will consist of 43 folks as Caroline Ford had to cancel at the last minute. We were surprised in Houston when Bernard Cohen joined us for our flight. He is going to spend a week in Panimaquin. Kim French is on this trip which means I need much prayer this week!

Reace Chandler, 2, is having some tests done this morning and I understand Carla Kyser is having blood work done today. Vaughn Womack may go home this weekend. Dominique Wilcox is doing well. Sharon Jardee was hoping to go home today but had an elevated temperature yesterday afternoon. I think Travis McDonald was going to be sent to a convalescent facility.

Pray for us. We are boarding now. Check the GRACE blog beginning later today or in the morning.

Well, God definitely showed up these past four days and He definitely showed out! We serve an awesome God. Last night was the proverbial “icing on the cake” as we had folks sitting on the floor and standing in the foyer listening to the Word being preached. However, the greatest thing was that we saw a number of folks give their lives to Jesus. Honestly, I cannot tell you how many folks made decisions this week but it was well over one hundred. We will be doing follow up with these folks and will begin the discipleship process beginning with baptism. Praise God for an incredible move within our church family this week!

Ken Freeman’s website (www.kenfreemanministries.com) features a video blog. He made an entry at end of last night’s service and it should be posted at some point within the next couple of days. I would especially encourage our out of town folks to watch as it gives a glimpse into the number of folks who made decisions this week.

Trish Blackwell has an uncle in an ICU at a local hospital, Mary Hall’s father, Travis McDonald, is in a local hospital, Vaughn Womack remains hospitalized as does Dominique Wilcox and Sharon Jardee. Please keep all of these folks in your prayers!

Lillian Brinkman had her surgery yesterday and was in the service last night. Carla Kyser wanted to come but is still suffering from the effects of the chemo treatment.

There is a fund raising meal today for Donna Romine Stagner at the Eastside Assembly of God Church on Highway 90 in Pascagoula. It is a fish dinner for $7. Donna received serious injuries in an accident back in January. You can call 228 475 3438.

Today is my older brother’s birthday. Eddie lives in China so he actually would have celebrated yesterday since they are basically a day ahead of us. (It will take Queen and others some time to figure that one out) Happy birthday, Eddie! Yes, he is my older brother!

I saw a beautiful sight yesterday as that container left the church grounds bound for port in Gulfport, MS. Thanks to all who helped make that happen!

Pray that my use of time will be wise today as I have much to do. I hope that you will have an awesome Thursday with Jesus!